If you remember our last post, you’ll recall that over a month ago we were getting ready for the trip of a lifetime; a 243-mile, mule assisted trek along the John Muir Trail. I don’t know about Reg, but I certainly had plenty of misgivings right up to the moment we first set foot on the trail. We would be surrounded by wilderness with very few escape routes. A number of concerning “what ifs” had kept me up at night.
Regardless, our journey began on schedule August 2 at Horseshoe Meadow in California’s Inyo National Forest. We arrived to a bustling corral that looked straight out of a Hollywood western. Our final group count equaled eleven hikers, four packers with four horses and eight or ten mules…for some reason, Reg and I could never agree on the mule count.
*click on headline at top to view slideshow below*
Our 4.5 mile route for Day 1 took us up over 11,160′ Cottonwood Pass, then on to Chicken Spring Lake (11,242′) for the night. Total elevation gain: 1,400 feet. Was it really just 4.5 miles?
And so, after a dusty first day, we put up our tent, blew up our air mattresses, unrolled our sleeping bags, filtered our water for the next day and found just enough time for a short rest before dinner. What would the next 29 days reveal?
carryoncouple 
Wow! Impressive. Do you get assigned a mule?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, the mules packed everybody’s stuff and the Packers had everything organized so that the mule loads would be balanced. Couldn’t have on tipping over the edge of the trail! We didn’t get to ride them!
LikeLike
You two are amazing! I am so in awe of ALL your adventures. I love reading your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Katy, How nice to hear from you! I hope you and your family are doing well. Thanks for following along with us. This was a challenging trek for us…we missed the comfy beds and hot showers from our previous adventures. Please let us know if you’re ever up this way. 💕
LikeLike
What an incredible journey! Looking forward to it!
Jackie Bachman Board Member, Community Relations OHRA (760) 889-5122 Jackie.bachman53@gmail.com
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely a journey like no other.
LikeLike